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Difficulty: EasyEvidence for Evolution: Comparative Biochemistry and Biogeography

Which biochemical evidence best supports the theory that all living organisms evolved from a shared ancestral origin?

  1. The universal presence of ATP and an identical genetic code across diverse organismsAnswer
  2. B
    The acquisition of identical somatic traits by organisms exposed to similar environments
  3. C
    The development of analogous structures with similar functions in unrelated species
  4. D
    The similarity in outer physical appearance caused by protective camouflage in shared habitats

Answer

The universal presence of ATP and an identical genetic code across diverse organisms
The universality of fundamental biochemical processes—such as using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for cellular energy currency and utilizing the same codon system in DNA and RNA to synthesize proteins—provides direct molecular evidence that all living organisms descended from a common ancestor.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the biological level being evaluated in the prompt.
The prompt specifically asks for biochemical evidence supporting evolution.
Comparative biochemistry focuses on molecular similarities (DNA, proteins, metabolic pathways) among organisms.
2
Evaluate the choices to determine which represents molecular/biochemical homology.
The reliance on ATP across all domains of life and the near-universal triplet genetic code indicate that these biochemical systems arose early in life's history and were inherited by all extant species.
Shared complex molecular mechanisms are extremely improbable to have evolved independently in every lineage.

Key Concept

Comparative Biochemistry as Evidence for Evolution
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Topics

Evidence for Evolution: Comparative Biochemistry and Biogeography

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